Views From the Tower

Views from theTower

A Sea of Plastic? Let’s Do Something About It

seabirds and 100,000 marine animals die from ingesting plastic. A 2016 Ellen MacArthur Foundation study predicted the oceans will contain more plastic than fish by 2050 if no actions are taken.

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco

want a straw or use paper straws. Styrofoam is a problem in its own right. Styrofoam effectively never breaks down and is not recyclable. There are also valid concerns that the chemicals in Styrofoam can leach into hot foods.

I often wonder about my role, my contribution, my impact. Perhaps it’s because I think about the impact the average American lifestyle has on the environment so much that it has become alarming. I am talking about our disposable society, and the starkest, in your face awareness comes when you actually open your eyes and look around.

Undoubtedly, you have seen itplastic grocery bags tangled in trees, straws littering our beaches, plastic utensils washed up in the dunes, bits of Styrofoam in the wrack line. The typical person uses these items for a few minutes and yet they persist for hundreds of years. Most of it will travel to a landfill where it will sit for eternity; a very small amount will be recycled and transformed into new products, but increasingly a notable portion finds its way into our waterways and ocean. Consider this, a plastic shopping bag has a working life of 15 minutes, we use 15 trillion a year, and they take more than 200 years to break down. This is just the beginning of the story. Estimates also indicate that half the plastic ever made was produced in the past 15 years.

Plastic pollution has rapidly become a global problem. Each year, 1,000,000

The root of this problem is our disposable ways. The most important step is to REDUCE our use of single use plastics. Start with a reusable bag for ALL shopping needs and if you do end up with single use bags – recycle them! Take the extra step to return them to a store; less than 3% are recycled nationally.

Both Avalon and Stone Harbor are working on ordinances to ban single use plastic bags, Styrofoam and plastic straws. There are provisions to make disposable food service products like forks, spoons, and knives more environmentally friendly.

Unless each of us takes a hard look at the way we live and makes adjustments, these are only small changes. Consider where you can reduce the use of single use plastics –and act on it! Learn what is recyclable in your area and recycle correctly. Finally, consider the future. Most of us remember the time before the convenience of single-use plastics and we managed fine. It doesn’t take much effort to get back to that lifestyle. We don’t want our legacy to be a sea of plastic pollution, but we’re well on our way. Let’s do something about it. Let’s use a lot less and recycle a lot more. Definitely, something worth teaching our kids and changing our lifestyle to achieve.

Plastic water bottles confuse me. Tap water is actually better regulated and guaranteed safer than many brands of bottled water, yet Americans purchase 50 billion plastic water bottles each year. Investing in a reusable bottle is another great way to cut down on single use plastic. Straws - Just say no! Tell the wait staff you don’t

Deborah A. Hays, Chair

Jane Rakestraw, Vice-Chair

Robert Rich, Treasurer

Dr. Dorothy Ives-Dewey, Secretary

Jeffrey Alderton

Raymond Burke, III

Michael Craig

John Cuthbert

Roberta DeVries

James Donohue

Staff

Leadership

Marsh Musings

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director

John Flynn

Lois Hamilton

Mary Millar

Wayne Renneisen

Hank Schellenger

William Wermuth

Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director

Dr. Lisa Ferguson, Director of Research and Conservation

Bonnie Girard, Director of Finance and Administration

Brooke Knapick, Director of Educational Program Development

Christine Mattera, Director of Marketing and Communications

Research & Conservation

Allison Anholt, Research Scientist

Brian Williamson, Research Scientist

Education

Haley Faith, Outreach Coordinator

Sue Slotterback, Environmental Educator

Administration

Terrie Campbell, Financial Admin. Assistant

Kimberly Dmytro, Tidepool Shop

Christina Faulk, Administrative Assistant

Charlene Smith, Gardener

Stephanie Stroble, Front Desk Receptionist/ Admissions Coordinator

Glenn Thompson, Maintenance

Jamie Warner, Manager of Advancement

Visit Us

Hours: September 3 - 23, open Daily 9:30 to 4:30. September 24 - May 19, open Saturday and Sunday 9:30 to 4:30. Check our website for Holiday Hours.

General Admission: Members: Free.

Non-members: $8 Adults, $6 Children 3-12.

Views From the Tower is the quarterly newsletter of The Wetlands Institute and can also be found on our website.

Another summer is screaming by. Part of me can’t believe it’s going by so quickly, while another part of me is excited by all the wonderful accomplishments of the team here. Hundreds of children are exploring the marsh and beach and connecting to nature through Summer Nature Programs. Thousands of visitors are experiencing these fragile ecosystems through guided nature walks, kayak and back bay boat tours, and daily programs. Tens of thousands of horseshoe crabs have been rescued through hundreds of volunteer hours spent on Delaware Bay beaches. Hundreds of orphaned diamondback terrapins are hatching from our incubators to become part of our headstarting program to be cared for by teachers and school children in the Terrapins in the Classroom Program.

On August 6th, we hosted the annual intern symposium and many of us were treated to the presentations of an excellent group of students sharing their summer research or education project. I have always believed in the power of mentored relationships and I know in my heart, that it is these opportunities that can truly make a difference in both our students’ lives and in our own. The work done by this year’s summer interns is incredibly important to the Institute. They have contributed to the collective advancement of our mission and I believe we have provided them with an opportunity to learn something about themselves in the process of learning about what it takes to work in the research, conservation or education fields.

I have always known that it is the conduct of independent research and the completion of independent projects that can spark a lifelong passion, much the way the early experiences of children exploring nature can shape their passions for life. Many of the interns shared stories about how someone in their life sparked their appreciation and love of nature that

led them on the journey they are on. The Institute works to provide a wealth of opportunities for people to connect to nature, for parents to ignite a curiosity in a child. They are ultimately structured to help the Institute achieve one of its core goals to build strong conservation leaders and stewards and continue to support our rich history of stewardship.

If you would like to connect with nature or share a special moment with your child or grandchild, please stop in for a visit. Ask to see me and I would be pleased to talk with you about ways you can become part of the great energy and achievement that is your Wetlands Institute.

A non-profit organization studying, preserving and protecting wetlands and coastal ecosystems. Founded in 1969 by Herbert Mills, Executive Director of the World Wildlife Fund.

50 Years of The Wetlands Institute

by Anne Galli

For 50 years the Wetlands Institute has been moving forward founder Herb Mills’ vision for a coastal research, conservation and education facility supported by a community convinced that coastal wetlands are of paramount importance. Step by step, day-by-day, project-by-project.

Some of the initiatives have been consistent, ongoing and have become models for environmental research, conservation and education throughout the U.S. and around the world. Others help sustain populations of special coastal and wetland’s species on the state and local level. Long term monitoring builds baseline data sets that inform coastal and wetlands conservation, management and restoration. Some are new and are evolving in response to environmental changes.

I’ve kept an eye on these doings for 40 of those 50 years participating as an employee, member, volunteer, biologist and even Chairperson of the Board of Trustees. Why? Because I, like so many individuals, believe that wetlands are special in different ways to each of us and vital to all of us. The work to sustain them is challenging, ever changing and will not end. Teaming with like-minded folks grows cooperative relationships with supportive partners. Teaching that opens young minds through discovery to knowledge and hearts to awe and joy through hands-on experiences is fulfilling. Working in the field to implement solutions that benefit humans and the environment is very satisfying. And it has always been fun!

I won’t be here for all of the next 50 years (hoping for at least 20 more) to help make them “the best to come years.”

However, many of you will be here for many of those years. You are invited to play a part in the drama of wetlands survival and revival as an Institute member, volunteer, program participant, supporter, and friend. You will experience discovery, awe and satisfaction being on a team that is making a difference now and into the future

Wetlands work for you – for free. Providing goods (i.e. seafood and open space) and services (i.e. protection from storms) that are often taken for granted until they are almost gone.

As we celebrate the first 50 years of The Wetlands Institute consider how you could participate in working to assure wetlands for the next 50 years and beyond. We welcome you as you are. We’ve made no small plans. We need creative minds and big hearts to help us achieve the vision.

Wetlands Institute Receives Diamondback Terrapin Grant from Quest for the Best

In July, Quest for the Best Foundation awarded the Institute with a two-year grant of $82,698 to support the Diamondback Terrapin Conservation program. Grant funds are in support of the headstarting program, mark and recapture work, intern support and the Terrapins in the Classroom Program. The grant also provides funds to support the expansion of cutting edge research using digital radio telemetry to track released hatchling terrapins during this poorly understood life stage. Hatchling terrapins are seldom seen in the marshes from the time of hatching until they reach sexual maturity – up to 8 years. Understanding this crucial life stage can help better inform conservation strategies for terrapins.

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Around the Marsh

Tracking Terrapins in the Marsh by Brian Williamson

In an effort to fill gaps in our knowledge of behavior and survival of juvenile terrapins, we initiated a telemetry study to track movements of head-started juvenile terrapins this summer. We are partnering with Cellular Tracking Technologies (CTT), a wildlife tracking company based in Cape May County, New Jersey, to test the use of new tracking technologies on terrapins.

Our first delivery of telemetry receivers and transmitters arrived in early July, and we immediately began attachment of transmitters and field deployment of our size-appropriate head-started terrapins. In all, 25 terrapins will be released with transmitters.

We also installed a multidirectional antennae and base station at TWI’s boat house, and an array of mini-receivers were installed on a 100m grid around our property and surrounding marsh. These nodes receive, send, and store signals from the transmitters every 15-20 seconds, giving us information on where the terrapins are spending time within the detection range.

We also have a handheld receiver to locate them in the marsh. We are in the early stages of data gathering, but are very excited by all we are discovering so far, including information on habitat, distance moved after release, and condition of the transmitter.

This telemetry work will continue over the next year with support from private donors and foundations including Davenport Family Foundation, Leff Family Foundation, Quest for the Best Foundation and the Franklin Parker grant program. We are excited about this new partnership and investment for The Wetlands Institute to exhibit our expertise, address new research questions for terrapins, and bring that information to conservation programs and the community.

Jamie is our new Manager of Advancement, and helps coordinate fundraising and marketing efforts at TWI. Her passion is connecting people with environmental issues, encouraging them to support projects which impact quality of life and the environment.

A marketing internship, and then entry-level positions with environmental nonprofits taught her the importance of using data from constituents to influence programming and development efforts. She started a social enterprise securing funding and developing over 20 community gardens, and is head of a small nonprofit, working to restore Bridgeton, NJ’s historic district. Before TWI, Jamie led Marketing and Development efforts at the Bayshore Center at Bivalve. While there she completed her MS in Management at Thomas Edison State University.

Jamie and her family live on the Delaware Bay, with a huge garden and a 160 year old house which she and her husband enjoy restoring on the weekends. Be sure to say hello next time you visit!

Our 2018 Institutional Sponsors:

Welcome Jamie Warner

Summer Intern Projects

Coastal Conservation Research Program

It was a busy, muddy summer with the Coastal Conservation Research Program interns. We were able to learn so much through their contributions, and had a great time doing it! The crew of six– all undergraduates or recent graduates – helped us collect data to monitor diamondback terrapins, coastal birds, horseshoe crabs, and, of course, the wetlands. In addition, they contributed to data analysis, outreach programs, and so much more, all the while gaining new experience with field skills, analytical approaches, and professional development that we hope will help them along their path. A significant portion of their summer was dedicated to the development and completion of independent research projects that included writing and delivering research proposals, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting the results of their work. They all showed off their accomplishments at our Annual Intern Symposium on August 6.

Several of our projects this year advanced our work with Diamondback Terrapins. Kirstine Grab (University of Minnesota) located head-started terrapins using radio telemetry and examined habitat characteristics of their positions. Sarah Kerr (Clemson University) compared mass-specific physiological differences in head-started terrapins. Amanda Lillie (Tufts University) evaluated

Educators Leading the Way

The Wetlands Institute’s Environmental Education Interns spent 12 weeks leading public education programs, while immersing themselves in the unique environment of the surrounding salt marsh and barrier islands. They worked hard and through it all developed the skills they need to continue their careers in environmental education. Each year, interns are asked to develop and implement an education project of their choosing that is personally and/or institutionally beneficial. The deliverables from their projects leave a lasting impact on The Wetlands Institute and we hope you’ll stop by to see their education initiatives in action.

Gregory Fischer (Stockton University) created a new general admission visitor program Science Feature to educate the public on soil science, dredging, and the use of dredged materials, including The Wetland Institute’s work on the Beneficial Use Project. Joseph Hernandez (Stockton University) developed educational signage and an accompanying 125-gallon brackish water aquarium tank that includes schooling fish, ribbed mussels, fiddler crabs and other salt marsh species, to highlight the importance of salt marsh organisms. Diana Moczula (Carleton University) translated 25 years of terrapin tracking research data into an educational terrapin tracking display that consists of

our efforts to decrease mortality of nesting terrapins on coastal causeways. Amanda Lyons (Brown University) compared methods for surveying terrapin in tidal creeks to determine a more efficient and effective methods for future study. Meanwhile, to contribute to our studies of coastal birds, Jamie Infanti (University of Connecticut) monitored behavior and nest site selection of a mixed species colony of skimmers and terns. Daniel Stoner (Kutztown University) explored habitat use and characteristics of Laughing Gull nests on a salt marsh island.

unique terrapin profiles and an interactive microchipping and mapping activity. Samantha Najarian (College of Charleston) bolstered the learning components of popular boathouse-based (Herd Building) programs, including Catch o’ the Day, Hooked on Fishing, and Crabbing, by creating new visual resources, including a marine themed art display for inside the Herd Building, and complimentary children’s activities.

2018 EE Interns, L to R: Diana Moczula, Brooke Knapick (Director of Education), Samantha Najarian, Gregory Fischer, Joseph Hernandez.

2018 CCRP Interns, L to R: Kirstine Grab, Amanda Lyons, Amanda Lillie, Jamie Infanti, Sarah Kerr, Danny Stoner (Photo taken by 2018 CCRP Coordinator: Steve Luell)

Thank you to our sponsors and donors who helped make this event a success !

Our 4th annual Summer Celebration held at ICONA Avalon on the evening of July 28 was a huge success! We want to thank all who came out to celebrate summer overlooking the marsh and to support our programs. Special thanks to our Premier Event Sponsors!

- Title Sponsor -

Archer Attorneys at Law

Burke Motor Group

Ray and Ellen Burke

Cape May Seafood Association

Marsh & McLennan Agency

PSEG Nuclear

Wayne and Kay Renneisen

RJ Soens Group

Seven Mile Times

Stag&Hare

Washington Inn, Cape May

7 Mile Brewery

Jeffrey & Lee Alderton

Anonymous

Brown & Brown Insurance

Bryn Mawr Trust

Cape Regional Health System

Concentus Wealth Advisors

Jim Donohue & Carol Mager

Hafetz & Associates

Halliday Financial

Barry & Lois Hamilton

The Hays Family

Hays Sheet Metal

Terry & Betty McCabe

OceanFirst Foundation

Pennsylvania Trust

Jim & Diana Perella

Jane Rakestraw

Bob & Josee Rich

Hank & Julie Schellenger

John Swanson & Amy Schultz

Sysco

Joe Watson at

Janney Montgomery Scott

Westside Meats

Wilmington Trust

- Platinum Level -

- Gold Level -

- Silver Level -

Will & Jennifer Wermuth

- Bronze Level -

Autumn Happenings

As the summer season comes to a close and we transition into autumn, The Wetlands Institute is open daily from September 4-23, 2018. Unless otherwise stated, all activities are free with admission and occur onsite at The Wetlands Institute. For more information, visit wetlandsinstitute.org/events.

Salt Marsh Safari

11am & 2pm Daily

Watch our award-winning film, Secrets of the Salt Marsh, then join us for an interpretive marsh walk along our elevated walkway and onto the dock overlooking Scotch Bonnet creek!

Creature Feature

12:30 PM Monday & Friday

During this live animal presentation, get up close and personal with turtles, fish, crabs, sea stars and urchins, mollusks, horseshoe crabs, or the popular animals of Finding Nemo.

Aquarium Feeding

12:30 PM Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday

Help us feed the local marine life! We will open up feeding three times each week so you can see the octopus eating crabs and the horseshoe crab gobbling shrimp.

Tidepool Shop

Catch ‘o the Day

12:30 PM

Wednesday

Get your feet wet (or wear waders!) as you discover what swims in the back bays. Help us drag seine or dip nets through the water to find crabs, shrimp, fish and more.

Seashell Sunday

12:30 PM Sunday

Seashells at the seashore! Join us to learn all about seashells, how to collect them without harming the environment and touch an assortment of live mollusks and cool artifacts.

Winter hours and activities start September 24, 2018. Starting then, The Wetlands Institute will only be open on Saturday and Sunday. Please check our website calendar for programming updates as we transition from autumn to winter hours.

Our book and gift shop is open every day from 9:30am to 4:30pm until September 23, 2018. Starting September 24, we will only be open Saturday and Sunday from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Can’t visit us? Call and purchase by phone. We will ship your purchase anywhere in the United States.

Baby Toys

Brand new designs inspired by baby’s favorite sea creatures: crabs and octopuses.

Pottery Drinkware

We are pleased to offer our custom pottery from Sunset Hill Stoneware, handmade in Wisconsin for over 20 years.

Seaglass Jewelry

Handmade, ocean-inspired design jewelry made from genuine seaglass found locally by Jersey Cape Seaglass.

1075 Stone Harbor Blvd.

Stone Harbor, NJ 08247-1424

A non-profit organization studying, preserving and protecting wetlands and coastal ecosystems

As a conservation organization, we have a special responsibility to address the global challenges of climate change and sustainability. We are committed to minimizing environmental impacts in all aspects of our operations. Visit our website at wetlandsinstitute.org/about-us/ sustainability/ for more on our sustainability initiatives.

September 22, 2018

9:30am - 4:30pm

• LIVE BUTTERFLY PRESENTATIONS AND TAGGING

• GUIDED BACK-BAY BOAT AND KAYAK TOURS

• FISH, SEA TURTLE, BUTTERFLY AND BIRD CRAFTS

• MIGRATION THEMED GAMES AND ACTIVITIES

• SPECIAL FALL TERRAPIN RELEASE

• GUIDED BEACH AND NATURE WALKS

• NATIVE PLANT GARDEN TOURS

• LIVE RAPTOR PRESENTATIONS BY COMMUNITY PARTNERS

SPONSORED BY:

Drawing: December 18,